Apparatus for making vitrified argillaceous products



Sept. 22, 1931.;

w. B; P|NE APPARATUS FOR MAKING VITRIF'IED ARGILLAGEOUS PRODUCTS Filed July 22. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 @a/wm, 14m).

4 fitter/un s Ili- Sept. 22, 1931 w. B. PINE Y 1,824,684

APPARATUS FOR MAKING VITRIFIED ARGILLACEOUS PRODUCTS Filed July 22. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 22, 1 931 I UNITTEDLSTATES PATENT 0mm WILLIAM PINE, or; oKMUmEE. Q KL'AHlo A' ABPARAT'US FOR MAKING vmmrmnzansrnmxcncvs. rmmvcrs I fipplieatibn' filed ma 22';

materials; such as clay shale and the like, f

. when llQQtGCltO atemperature awe-mama materials are plastic: or semi-plastic. but not completely fused; may he; compacted and:

m densified the application oil .pressure While; so: heated and molded to form prod ucts; having uniformcompositiori -and: texture and being dense; hard; toaghaad rock like; The starting materials which. are suits 1-5 able for use in this manner include broadly; argillaceous materials suchv asclay or shale of many varieties either. alone. or mixed with other ingredientsto aid or increase the pm'cperties which the clayor-shale may be deficient, These mateitials, which may if: desired be first crushed ground or p-ulve-n iz'ed tos'any suitable degree-,1 are-lieatedqto temperatmze at which they become plastic or semi-plastic but are not completely fused, 25 andpwli'rle so heated. are: molded to any desired shape, preferably under pressure which be; applied any suitable manner as means:v of suitable rollers, dies; or the like; Therapplicatiorr ofpressure: compacts; the 39 hot. material, decreasing. the: porosity, of the. resultant product and increasing it'sharcb ness: and density.

lVheIi these. materials areheated, a some- What. loose: mass of plastic or semi-plastic 35 material is'obtained whichis full of voids be compacted and the. voids therein elimis hat-ed during or before the} molding opera v tion while. the materialsare; maintained in 7 a, hotnpilast-icior semi-plastic stam These r voids maybe eliminated to a large: extent *4 by mechanically working or manipulating 1930." Serial No. 469904.

the hot materialsz priorto the molding ope aation, as by lmeadingg or rolling ope-ration also by molding the hot-materials 11-:

der press-ureflto-the desired final form, and v inmany instances these operations will be sufficient to produce/Ha final product havingv the desired characteristics. The extent of: densification of the mass; of materials obtained -by ,moldj ig' them under pressure, howcver 'depends to some extent on a the; thickness: of materialt be molded and where; thick mass; oi? matesial is tabs molded to form for example, large heavy articles such. as paving blocks; structural beams and build-- ingblocks gand the: like, it is difiic-ult'to obi rain y a i g in Operation h dew 'sired1;,dehsification= throughout the. thickness, of the mass of material-under treatment Where tooamueh pressure i'srequired, or too high a temperatm-e,diflieulties: in maintaihm ing; and operating equipment are. encountered andcost is increased Moreover, it; is desirable; to keep the temperature of the materials as low as possible inorderthat as few of the. materials as possible be fused...

One; on? the objects of the present inven.- tion ist,0 p1 ovide anovel process and appa ratusfon making molded: argillaeeoils. products whereby a, relatively thick mass; of heated material molded? into a desired T1 shape withuniform densificati-on of the ma terial-throughout the thickness of the-- completed product. p H

A other ohjet ist0 PIQVidQ-fiuP 'RHd apparatus for making; a; relatively thick molded argillaceoius product. whereby relas tively thin portions of a, mass of heated materials are individually mo1ded,'compaeted or. dei sified and are. simultaneously united or;we1ded '00: other portions of the mass. ,7 35 Another ect; is to provide a process and apparatus: for: making a relatively thick "molded; ,argillaceous product whereby less pressure: is required and lower temperatures employed than hereto-fore necessary.

Another object is to provide a continuous process and apparatus particularly adapted mass of material to form said articles is; heated and distributed into relatively thin portions that are individually rolled or otherwise suitably compacted and densified while eachportion is joined or welded integrally with previously molded portions by the 'densifying operation, and an apparatus for carryingout said process. By this means the materials are molded and compacted in thin sections, so that the densifying action of the application ofpressure to the'materials is increased and uniform densification is produced, while the densifiedsections are joined or welded integrallyto build up the completed article. 'By rolling the materials in thin sections, less pressure is required than when the said materials are rolled as an integral mass, so that lighter rollers and.

equipment maybe employed, Furthermore, the materials may be satisfactorily molded at lower temperatures, so that the amount of heat required is reduced and fewer of the elements are fused or partially fused.

- One form ofapparatus embodying the invention has been-illustrated in the drawings, and one embodiment of the process is described hereinafter in connection there with, but it is to be expressly understood that said drawings are for purposes of illustrati'on only and 'are' not to be construed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had tothe app nded claims for this purpose. i "In said drawings, V

Fig. 1 is a sectional plan view. of an apparatus embodying the invention;

Fi '2 is an end view partly in section of the apparatus shownin Fig. l; and Fig. 3' is a side elevation of said apparatus. i -The argillaceous materials to be treated may-beheated in any suitable manner, and

to this end a rotary. kiln of any desirable type maybe employed, a portion' of said kiln being shown atl and being provided with a suitable end'door 2 in which is an opening 3 for the passage of thehotma terials. Where it is desired that the materials be mechanically worked to reduce voids therein, any suitable mechanical device such as a pair of rolls 1 may receive the hot materials discharged from the kiln 1 to compact and densify the same. It will be understood, however, that the apparatus hereinafter described may be used-with any suitable heating means and with orwithout mechanical working devices such as rolls 4.

The hot materials, whether worked or not, are fed to an apparatus which distributes the mass ofmaterials into separate portions and in the form shown, said distributing means takesthe form of a fan-shaped pan 5 of suitable refractory material which is preferably-inclinedto the. horizontal at an angle such that the hot materials will feed by gravity down the incline, although any suitable mechanical feeding means such as rakes or the like may be additionallyemployed. The upperend'of the pan is closed by a suitabledoorfi having an opening 7 therein through which-the materials from.

the rolls 4e-or kiln 1 pass into a throat 8. The materials leaving the throat 8 and feedingdown the inclined pan are distributed into individual portions preferably by means of dividing or :separating walls-9 which as shown form four separate passages forthe materials, and these walls 9 maybe provided with adjustable end portions 10 to regulate the amount of materials fed into each of the individual passages. As shown, said' adjustable portions 10 are each controlled by means of a handle 11 secured to a shaft 12 carrying a worm 13'meshing with a worm gear 1 1 on a pin or shaft 15 on which the end portions 10 are mounted. The ma terials passing down the passages in thepan are kept hot by any'suitable means such as burners 16 of any suitable type which are preferably positioned'at the lower end of each passage. 7V

At the lower ends of theinclined passages in the pan 5, the materials in each passage are discharged to a substantial vertical feed er l7. Preferably feeders 17 are of a type described and claimed in a co-pending application, Serial No. 469,905, filed-of even date herewith, that is, they may be ofv restricted cross section adjacent theirbottom portions and are of sufficient vertical'extent that the loose materials are packed or compressed 'intlie bottoms of the feeders due to their ownweight. During their passage through the feeders 17, the materials are kept hot by suitable means such as burners 18 of'any suitable type which supply heat externally to the walls of the feeders, the products of combustion from said burners perferably passing upwardly through conduits 19 and being delivered at the lower ends of. the

inclined passages where. their available heat is added to that supplied by burners .16 to keep the materials descending the inclined passages in L hot plastic or semi-plastic state. Air and gases which collect in the hot materials in feeders 17 may '7 escape through suitable openingsQO in thewalls of saidifeeders that are inclined upwardly and outwardly to prevent the escape -of the hot materials thenethnou-gh.

For "purposes of illustration of the invention, the drawings show an embodiment of the process and apparatus designed to prov-ide a relatively thick article in theform of a-flat sheet or slab; accordingly, the hot materials are continuously discharged from,

feeders 17 onto a (travelling support or surface indicated diagrammatically at 21' which may comprise a moving belt, trains of suit ahle'molds-or cars, etc. A heating chamber 22 provided with suitable burners or the like. 23 heats thesurface 21 before it receives the hot materials fromthe' first feeder 17; .As

shown, feeders 17 have :a discharge opening which extends substantially the width of surface 21- but which rmay becon siilerahly narrower inlthe directionof movement of said surface, so that the hot materials are laid :out on :said surface in thin side thereof in the direction of movement of surfaceQl. 'illhusiasreachsection of material is laidzon the mowingsupport 21, it is aton ce rolled'ninder pressure to'densifysand compact the materials and at the same timeito.

weld oinj ointhe top. section to the previously rolled underneath section :or sections of ma- .terial; Rolls 24 are preferably shielded from burners 1'8 fbysuitable means such as walls 25, and an integral weld or union between the separate sections :may be assured byiheaazing the :surface of one section of material immediately before laying another section of material thereon, :as by means of suitable burners :26. These burners restore any iheat lost by the materials during the a'olling operationmande insure that the materials :are sufficiently .hot and plastic to obtain a good weld between the sections.

The operation is as follows The materials heated to aiplasti'c or semi-plastic condition in kiln 1 after passing through rolls 4,

where these are employed,-;enter the distributing pan .5 through. opening 7 and throat 8. On leaving the throat -8 said materials are. divided into separate portions by the walls I 9,.the adjustable end portions 10 of said walls being set to regulate the amount of material descending: each of the inclined passages in said ipan. During their passage down the, pan, the materials are kept hot the. products of combustion of burners .18 which pass into the panthrou-gh conduits 19. On arriving .at the lower end of the pan, the hot materials are discharged into the vertical feeders 17 wherein they QELTQ packed or compressed by their oivnweight to reduce or eliminate voids therein while being kept hot by'heat supplied from burners '18, air.

and gases escaping from the materials throughopenings 20 in the walls of the feeders. From the feeders 17, the loose plastic materials are discharged and spread or laid. out in superimposed thin sections ionthe travellingsupport 21 which is preliminarily heated by passing through heating chamber 22, and each section of material as it is dis-V charged andspread out on the travelling surface is individually rolled to compact and densify the materials andto weldxthe sectionstogether. A hot weld is insured by heating the surface of each previously rolled section by :means of burners '26 immediately before placing another section of material I thereon.

It'wil'l be seen that the compacting densifying pressure is appliedto the mate-' rials distributed in thin sect-ionsrregardless of the ultimate thicknessof the article to be formed. In this way the densifying action of the pressure-is uniform and complete througout the th'icknessof the final article, and this with less pressiute Sand llowertemperatures. ldoreover, a continuous operation not only densities ,the materials by applying 1 pressure thereto but the same pressure also welds the sections of material together and molds and shapes the final product. By the use of the apparatus dcscribed,:this process can be carried out simply and economically, and products of uniform characteristics-obtained. Because of the reduction in required pressure, lighter equipment may be used witha-consequent saving incost. Heat requirements are less as the materials can bemolded in thin sections at lower temperatures. e v V 7 VVhileonly single embodiments of ,the

process audxapparatus have been described and illustrated an the drawings, it is .to be expressly understood that the invention .is not limited thereto. For example, the munber of sections of material into which the mass is divided may be either moreor less than four as shown in the drawings, and the densifying and molding pressure may be applied to the materials in'any suitableman- I181; As regards the process, the distrib uting, feeding and molding apparatus may be altered or other means substituted therefor,and the final product need not take the form ofa flat sheet, as any-suitable molding or shaping apparatus may be employed to produce. any desired article for which the materialis suited. Likewise the apparatus '55 by heat supplied from burners 16 and from described n1a-y be modified and changes becomes somewhat plasticbut not completely fused, distributing the hot mass into, separate portions, separately densifying said portions by applying compacting pressure thereto While so heated, and welding the hot portions together.

' 2. A process for treating argillaceous materials which comprises heating a mass of said materials to a temperature at which it becomes somewhat plastic but not completely fused, distributing the hot mass into relatively thin portions, separately densifying said portions by applying compacting pressure individually thereto whlle so heated, and employing said compacting pressure to unite and mold said portions.

3. A process for makin relatively thick articles of molded argillaceous material which comprises heating a mass of argillaceous material to a temperature at which it becomes somewhat plastic but not completely fused, distributing said hot mass into separate portions while .maintaining its temperature, and densifying and uniting said hot portions by successively adding one portlon to another while applying welding and densifying pressure.

4. A process for making molded articles of argillaceous material which consists in heating a mass of said material to a temperature at which "it becomes somewhat plastic but not completely fused and, while maintaining said temperature, separating said mass into portions and densifying and uniting said portions into an integral mass by applying molding pressure to individual portions while in contactwith other portions.

'5. A process for making molded articles of argillaceous material which consists in heating a mass of said material to a temperature at which it becomes somewhat plastic but not completely fused and, whilemaintaining said temperature, separating said mass into portions and rolling said portions individually under pressure to mold and weld the same into an integral mass. 6, A process for making molded articles of argillaceous material which consists in heating a mass of said material to a temperature at which it becomes somewhat plastic but not completely fused, separating said mass into portions, placing one portion in contact with another while maintaining said temperature, and simultaneously: densifying,

molding andwelding 'said portions by ap plying rolling pressure thereto.'

,7. A process for-making molded articles of argillaceous material which consists in heating a mass of said material to a temperature at whichlit becomes somewhatplastic but not completely fused, densifying one portion of the loose hot material by applying pressure thereto, applying another portion of the loose hot material to said densified portion, and densifying said second portion while welding the same integrally with said first portion by applying pressure thereto. I

8. A process for making molded articles of argillaceous material which consists in heating a mass of said material to a: temperature at which it becomes somewhat plastic but not completely fused, rolling one portion'of the loose hot material under pressure to compact and densify the material, applying another portion of the loose hot material to said densified portion, and roll.-

ing said second portion under pressure to compact and densify the'loose material while welding the same to said first portion.

9. A process for making molded articles of argillaceous material which consists in heating a mass of said material toua temperature at which it becomes somewhat plastic but not completely fused, successively superimposing portions of the loose hot material on one another, and densifying and compacting thematerials of each portion individu ally while welding the same to otherportions by applying pressure individually to the loose hotmaterials of each superimposed portion. r

lOfiA process for making articlesof hot argillaceous material'which consists in separating the loose hot material into portions, placing or distributing one portion on a mold or surface and densifying and molding it by application of pressure, then heating the top surface of that section of material in the mold, distributing another portion of said loose, hot, material on the hot surface of the section previously formed, and densifying and molding the material of said last portionby the application of pressure and simultaneously welding it to'the section below, then reheating the top surface, distributing another portion of the loose'hot material, and densifying, molding and welding as before and continuing until the article is build up to the desired thickness.

11. Apparatus for making products from a hot plastic or semi-plastic but not complete- 1y fused mass of, argillaceous materials, comprising in combination a distributor having means for separating said mass into individual portions, and a plurality of means for applying densifying and moldingv pressure individually to said portions;

12. Apparatus for making products from ass a hot plastic or semi-plastic ibutinot co1npletely fused m'assgof' argillaceous materials comprising in combinationa distributor for separatingcsaid: mass into individual portions, means for individually applyingdensifying and molding pressure to said; portions, and means'for maintaining the temperature of the hot: materials.

13. Apparatus for making products from .a hot plastic or semi-plastic -but not completely fused mass of argillaceous materials, comprising. in coinli'mahon a dlstrlbutor having adjustable means for separating said mass into indlvidual portions varlable in] pletely fused mass of argillaceous material comprising in combination means for distributing said mass into separate portions, means for successively superimposing said portions on one another, and means for applying densifying and Welding pressure successively to each superimposed portion.

16. Apparatus for making products from a hot plastic or semi-plastic but not completely fused mass of argillaceous materialcomprising in combination adjustable means for distributing said mass into separate portions variable in amount, means for successively superimposing said portions on one another, and means for applying densifying and weldlng pressuresuccessively to each superimposed portion. 7 g V 17. Apparatus for making products from a hot plastic or semi-plastic but not completely fused mass of .argillaceous material comprisingin combination means for distributing said mass into separate portions, a travelling support, means for successively feeding said portions to saldsupport in superimposed position, and means for apply-v ing pressure successively to each superimposed portion.

18. Apparatus for making molded products from a hot plastic mass of argillaceous materials comprising in combination means for distributing a mass of said materials into separate portions, means for feeding materials to said distributing means, a support, means for feeding said portions successively to said support in superimposed position, and means for applying molding support. I

presure successively toieach of said superlmprosed portions. I

"'19. Apparatus for making products from ahot plastic mass of argillaceous materials comprising in combination a distributor inclined to the horizontal and having a plurality-of separate passages for said materials, means for feeding materials to said dis tributor, a,support, means for feeding materials from said: passages successively to said support, and means for applying molding pressure to each said material's. p

20. Apparatus for. making products from a hot plastic mass of argillaceous materials comprising in combination .a distributor in- "cli'ned to the horizontal and'having a pluralityof separate passagesyfor-said materials,

means for feeding materials; to. said, distributor, adj ustabl'emeans, for-directing said materials to said separate passages, a sup-' port, Ineansfor. feedingsaid materials from said passages successively to c said support, and means forrapplying pressure to each successiveportion ofE'said materials fed to said Y 21'.Apparatus for 'making productsf-rom a hot-plastic mass cf argillaoeous materials comprising in combination a distributor in- .chned to the horizontal: and having a plurality-of separate pa assa'ges for said materials,

means for feeding materials to'said distributor, asupp'ort, means for feeding materials from said passages successively to said support, means for applying molding pressure to each successive portion of said materials, and means for; heatingsaid materials in said distributor;

r 22. Apparatus for makingjproductsfronil a. hot plastic mass 1 of argillaceous materials comprising in oomblnation a distributor inclined to the horizontal and having. a plurality of separate. passages for said materials, =means for feeding materials to saiddistributor, adjustable means for directing said materia'ls to said separate Lpassages, a support,:fmeans for s feeding said materials from said passages successively to said support, means for applyingpressure'to each successive portion of said inate-ials fe d to said support, and means for heating said materials in saidldistributori and feeding means;

23. 'In apparatus of the class fld'e'scribed, d stributor comprisinga pan inclined tqthe successive portion of its horizontal, a plurality cf-walls tranversing said pan and formingaeplurality ofsepara'te passages, means for discharging-materials from the bottom of each: passage, and means for heating materials in said'passagesy 24:. In'apparatus of the class"described, a distributor comprisinga paririnclined' tothe horizontal, a plurality of: walls traversing said pan and forming a plum ty of separate passages, said Walls having adjustable Yend ing materials in each of said passages, and 7 means for discharging materials from the lower ends of said passages.

26. Apparatus of the class described coma specification.

WILLIAM B. PINE.

prising in combination a distributing pan inclined to the horizontal, walls traversing said pan and forming a plurality of separate inclined passages, a vertically disposed feeder at the lower end of each passage, a travelling support -moving under the outlets of said feeders, and'means associated with, each feeder for applying pressure to materials delivered thereby on said support.

27.'Apparatus ofthe class described comprising in combination a distributing pan inclined to the horizontal, walls traversing said pan and forming a plurality of separate inclined passages, a vertically disposed feeder at the lower. end of each passage, a travelling support moving under the outlets of said feeders, means between successive feeders for heating materials on said support, and means associated with each feeder for applying pressure to materials on said support. n

28. Apparatus of the class described comprising in combination a distributing pan inclined to the horizontal, walls traversing said pan and forming a plurality of separate inclined passages, a vertically disposed feeder at the lower end of each passage, a travelling support moving under the outlets of said feeders, heating means between successive feeders adapted to heat materials on said support, and a pressure roller associated with each feeder for rolling materials on said support.

29. Apparatus of the class described comprising in combination a distributing pan inclined to the .horizontal, walls traversing said pan and forming a plurality of separate inclined passages, a vertically disposed feeder at the lower end of each passage, a travel- I ling support moving: under the outlets of said feedersymeans associated with each feeder for applying pressure to materials delivered thereby-on said support, and means for heating materialsflin said passages and feeders. Y

30. Apparatus of the class described comprising in combination a distributing pan inclined to the horizontal, walls traversing said pan and forming a plurality of separate inclined passages, said walls having adjust- 

